Arsenal have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez, 23. The Swiss international has told the German club that he wants to leave this summer.
Speaking to Wolfsburger Nachrichten, sporting director Klaus Allofs said, “Rici has stated that his future is not with us. But we can live with this decision.”
The left back, currently on duty with Switzerland at Euro 2016, has attracted the attention of Arsenal, as well as AS Roma and Real Madrid.
The Italians appear to be favourites for his signature with Rodriguez’s agent, Gianluca Di Domenico, stating, “Ricardo loves Italy so much, so surely if there was a serious proposal we would see.”
Contact has already been made with Roma. Di Domenico spoke with Roma’s manager, Walter Sabatini. However, he denied that it was about Rodriguez.
Arsenal were linked with the left back earlier in the summer with speculation that new signing, Granit Xhaka, 23, would sing the club’s praises to his close friend.
The interest in Rodriguez raises questions about the future of England’s Kieran Gibbs, 26. Unable to displace Nacho Monreal, 31, from the starting line-up, his international ambitions have suffered and he was overlooked by Roy Hodgson for Euro 2016.
The arrival of another international full back would surely signal the end of his career in north London.
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